Editorial

By Sherly Isaac

Job a righteous man was trying to tell his friends that the calamities and tragedies he was facing was not because of any sin committed by him. He listed various acts that could have led him in sin and how he had avoided all those ways and how righteous he was. He was so sure about his righteousness that he was even ready to present his case before the almighty God.

When you read the 31st chapter of the book of Job, you can see how perfectly, how purely and how humbly he tried to walk with God avoiding unrighteousness and wickedness.

What was the reason why he was so righteous?

One of the things he says in Job 31:33, “If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom…” I believe that this was the key why he could lead a righteous life. He did not hide his iniquity nor did he cover his transgression. In the book of Genesis we read about Adam and Eve who sinned against God, hid themselves from God and tried to cover their nakedness by their own means. But Job says that he did not commit that type of mistake.

In Prov 28:13 we read, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Bible talks about another person named David. He walked in the ways of God but one day he saw a beautiful woman and committed adultery with her. But when the prophet Nathan revealed his sin that he had acted wickedly, David repented from his sin and turned to God. His sins were forgiven and God gave him a new beginning. Had he tried to cover his sin, he would never have seen the forgiveness of God.

The second thing Job did was that he made a covenant with his body parts to lead a righteous life. He made covenant with his eyes, feet, heart, hands and mind as we read in Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” And in Job 31:4-11, “Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit, Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands, Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out. "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her. For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.” And in Job 31:12-13, For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase. If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me… And in Job 31:21-22, “If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate; Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.”

He goes on and lists many more things. You can see how much he was committed to God. He was always willing to do the will of God. Even today God wants us to walk in His holy ways. Often people think that it is OK to live in sin because every other person is living in the same way and so what difference it makes if I alone lead a holy life. But without holiness no one can see God and no one can enter in His kingdom with all their filth and sins. If we want to go to heaven we need to repent from our sins and turn to Jesus who came in this world to give us a holy life. He shed His precious blood so that our sins could be forgiven.

One-on-One With God!

By Sherly Isaac

In the Bible we read about a woman named Hannah. Her husband Elkanah had two wives. His other wife Peninnah had children but Hannah had not. Because of that Peninnah would tease her and severely provoked her and made her life miserable. She was deeply hurt because of that and would not eat anything but weep. In short Hannah was a woman of sorrow.

Her husband who loved her so much could not help her and could not ease her pain. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And we read in 1 Sam 1:7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she(Peninnah) provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.”

Her yearly sacrifice and worship was not enough to ease her pain. Every year she went to the house of the LORD but she came back empty, miserable and broken. Her husband tried to console her in1 Sam 1:8-18 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" But her husband’s consoling words were not enough to remove her tears and grief.

Probably as years advanced, her hopelessness, pain and misery might have increased. At that point she realized, “I need to make things straight… I need to put a stop to my problems... I need to talk to God who created me… who is able to solve my problem and who is able to give me children.”

We read Hannah’s one-on-one talk with God in 1 Sam 1:9-11 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

She went before God and poured out her heart, her hurts, her pain, her anguish and her sorrow. She seriously wanted to end this problem once and for all. Even she forgot her surroundings. We read in 1 Sam 1:12-18, “And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”

You can see that her circumstances did not change but she went her way and ate and her face was no longer sad. One conversation with God made that difference. Her life turned around. Her sorrows turned into joy. Her tears were wiped away just in a split second. Her face was no longer sad.

My friend, that’s what happens when God answers prayers. It is possible that you are hiding so many sorrows and pain in your heart and trying to put a happy face over it. It is possible that week after week you are attending church but coming back empty and more miserable than before. And you do not know what to do with your problems and those sad situations! But one encounter with God could change everything in your life.

Jesus said in Mat 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Yes, there is a God who wants to fill our hearts with great peace and wants to give us rest that this world cannot give.

Hannah finally found peace in her life so can you, if you look to Jesus!

Reader's Mail

Thank you for the beautiful message on the resurrection of Jesus. It is amazing and awesome, thought provoking actually, that the King of Kings and Lord of Lord died for our sinful nature. That's a lot to ponder and think about. Thank u again and God bless all of you for the good work. keep it up and Regards. Malaysia.

Wish you & family a Blessed Easter! May the resurrected Jesus fulfill your just needs during this Easter time! Easter is the spectrum of hopes and expectations after the moments of agonies!! Can the spring be far away, when our hopes get frozen under winter? Wait hopefully.....Warm regards India

Standing in the Gap - Fasting prayer on 8th Dec.. 2015

As the Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it." And also the Bible says in Numbers 16:48, "And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." We have fasting prayer every second Tuesday of each month. Our next fasting prayer meeting will be conducted on 16th Nov. 2015

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